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House Intelligence Chairman: Libya Attack Was 'Coordinated'

By Elahe Izadi // September 12, 2012 | 4:48 p.m.

Rep. Mike Rogers, R-MI, the recently named Chairman of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence for the House, sits down for an interview with Chris Stohm in his office on Monday, January 24, 2011. (Chet Susslin)

Elected officials have begun to weigh in on the killing of U.S. ambassador to Libya J. Christopher Stevens and three embassy staff in Benghazi, Libya, and the House Intelligence Committee Chairman has come out saying that a random mob isn't behind the attack.

"This was a coordinated attack, more of a commando-style event," Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mich., told CBS News. "It had both coordinated fire -- direct fire and indirect fire. There appeared to be military maneuvers approaching the facility."

Rogers also said that the attack was carried out by "an external group we believe has at least extremist ties, maybe al Qaeda ties."

Members of Congress issued statements this morning after news that Stevens had been killed, offering condolences and condemning the attack.